office.
Three foot-power presses were there, also a quantity of variously
colored inks and packages of odd-colored paper.

But they could waste no time in investigating. The burning brands
were dropping around them, and they leaped across the printing room
to where they saw another passageway. This had a door, but the barrier
stood wide open.

"In you go!" sang out Dick. "It must lead somewhere--and, anyway, we
can't stay here."

They rushed into the passageway, not an instant too soon, for a second
later there came another crash and the printing room was filled with
sparks and bits of burning timber. Then a cloud of smoke all but
choked them.

Half-blinded, and scarcely knowing what they were doing, the two
Rover boys ran on and on, down the passageway. It had several crooks
and turns, and more than once they brought up against some stones
and dirt in anything but an agreeable fashion. But they felt that
they were getting away from the fire and smoke, and that just then
meant everything to them.

At last, the danger from the conflagration seemed to be passed, and
they slackened their pace, and finally came to a halt. Both were out
of breath.

"Whe--where does this lead to?" gasped Tom.

"That's a riddle, Tom. But I know it has taken us away from the fire,
which is a blessing."

"Dick, we have had a narrow escape."

"Right you are."

"Those rascals meant to burn us up!"

"They were afraid we knew too much about their affairs."

"They ought to go to jail for this, and Dan Baxter with them."

"I wish we were out of this passageway and could find the rest of
our crowd."

"We must find a way out."

This was easier said than done. They went on once more, and soon,
without warning, stepped into water up to their knees.

"Back!" cried Dick, who was in advance. "We don't want to get drowned.
That would be as bad as being burnt up."

"We can swim," answered Tom as he scrambled back.

"True, but I want to know where I am swimming to, don't you?"

Tom got out his waterproof match safe and found that it contained
just one match. This was lit, and then he set fire to some leaves
from a notebook in his pocket. By this light, they saw another turn
of the passageway, leading upward.

"That must be a way out," exclaimed Tom, and started in the direction,
followed by his brother.

"Now, go slow," warned Dick when they were once more in darkness,
the paper having burnt itself out. "We don't want to run into